Abu Dhabi's expanding tourism infrastructure opens up new opportunities for private investors

In an exclusive interview with Oxford Business Group (OBG), the global publishing, research and consultancy firm, Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan said investors would be able to partner in the expansion of the region's tourism infrastructure base, with projects ranging from additional and upgraded visitor accommodation to attractions, restaurant and retail facilities.

"All regions will be the subject of comprehensive tourism strategies developed in conjunction with local organisations and communities to identify tourism expectations and opportunities. A wide range of sensitive tourism operations and attractions will help to further open the charm of this region to the world," he said.

The interview will feature in The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009, the most comprehensive and accurate review of the country's economy available, which is soon to be published by OBG. Rated as the premier source of information for foreign direct investment into the country's economy, it will be a vital guide to the many facets of Abu Dhabi, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, political landscape, banking and sectoral developments.

The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009 has been produced by a team of OBG analysts based in Abu Dhabi who conducted some two hundred interviews with leading political and economic figures. Sheikh Sultan is one of the leading figures interviewed in The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009, where the full version of his interview will appear.

Abu Dhabi tourism is riding high after clinching a deal to host its first Formula One Grand Prix in 2009 which, Sheikh Sultan hopes, will be followed by further high-profile international events over the next few years.

"Our five-year strategic plan until 2012 targeted another seven major events and we intend to pursue this as part of our long-term approach to building a destination for major events," he said. "We are in talks with leading organisations about a number of major sporting events which we hope to announce in the coming months."

Sheikh Sultan said that events such as the Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship bring benefits that extend well beyond the race track and golf course, such as exposure on the world sporting stage and indirect expenditure which ripples through the local economy and the region.

"Major events deliver destination awareness, and economic and cultural benefits to Abu Dhabi. Events of international scale and calibre deliver exposure well beyond our shores and present great opportunities,"

he said.

The ADTA chairman was upbeat on the subject of whether Abu Dhabi would be able to meet its target of accommodating 2.3m visitors by 2012 end. "The upswing in the emirate's hotel room inventory will become particularly apparent towards the end of 2009 when several projects come on-line," he said. "The hotels - a mix of five-, four- and three-star properties will together boost Abu Dhabi's accommodation inventory by over 3,000 rooms."

Available in print form and online, The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009 will be part of the range of OBG's publications renowned as leading sources of information on developing and emerging economies around the world.